Silo.



f. w. CRAM.

SILO.

APPLICATION FILED MAYII. I9I4.

1,1 37,842. Patented May 4, 1915.

www12/vm FREDERICK WERT CRAM, OF MOUNT VERNON, WASHIGTON.

SILO.

Application filed May 11, 1914.

To all Lo/0m it may concern Be it known that l, FREDERICK `YVERT CRAM, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Mount Vernon, in the county of Skagit and State of lVashington, have invented certain n ew and useful Improvements in Silos, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its primary aim to provide a structure of the above character which will be of novel and practical construction whereby certain objections found in other such buildings will be obviated.

In silos constructed of material which is caused to expand or contract by the presence or absence of moisture or by other conditions, it has been found that cracks or openings result between the wall sections for the reason that the latter stick or remain in a set position until moved by an external force.

A further object of my invention, therefore, resides in the provision of a sectional wall arranged for cooperating with longitudinal frame members in such a manner as to maintain automatically a close relation between the sections of the wall.

Other objects of equal importance will appear as the description progresses, and those features of construction, arrangements and combinations of parts on which l desire protection will be succinctly defined in the appended claims.

It may be preliminarily mentioned that in the preferred embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, there are employed a plurality of spaced upright frame members formed in their opposing side faces with flaring, vertical grooves in which are provided seats or cut-outs having inclined vertical walls, a plurality of boards composing a wall for interposition between each pair of spaced uprights and having their ends cut on a bias or inclined to engage the inclined seats, the side faces of the boards adjacent the inclined ends being beveled to snugly lit the flaring, vertical grooves, and a series of bolts or binding elements connecting the uprights of each pair.

For a full understanding of my invention reference is to be had to the following speciiication and the attached drawing wherein:

Figure l is an elevation of my improved silo, with parts omitted for the sake of clear- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

serial No. 837,853.

ness. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof with a portion thereof in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. t, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4 4 of Fig. 8.

Referring-by like characters of reference to similar parts throughout, l designates the upright frame members of the silo supported on a foundation of concrete or the like, each having its side faces 2 formed with vertical grooves y3 whose side walls 3 flare outwardly and whose inner or rear walls are provided with a series of outwardly and upwardly inclined seats i. Shoulders 5, interposed between and joining the adjacent inclined seats, define the limit of downward travel of the respective sections composing the silo walls.

The sections comprising the silo walls are identical and therefore, a description of one will suffice. The section 6 is provided on its upper and lower edges, respectively, with a tongue 6 and groove 6 to snugly lit the companion elements of the adjacent sections 6. The opposite ends of each section 6 are cut or formed on a bias, as at 7, for engaging with seats 4 while the sides of the section are tapered or beveled at 8 adjacent the outwardly and downwardly inclined ends 7 to fit snugly in the grooves 3.

Vith the sections 6 disposed between the upright frame members, the bolts or binding elements 9, which are passed through suitable bores l0 in said frame members, are

tightened to eXert a clamping pressure on the interposed sections which, through the cam surfaces of seats 4 and ends 7, effects a downward movement of the aforesaid wall sections 6 for maintaining a tight joint therebetween. The sections 6 are preferably of wood and should they swell or shrink, due to the presence or absence of moisture, the action, through the seats 4, will be downward to obviate crevices in the walls. v

Doors ll, hinged at 12 to one of the frame members l, open inwardly and are held shut by locking bolts 13 and 14 slidable in opposite directions by leverv l5.

ferentially in staggered relation.

The foregoing detailed description has ybeen given for clearness of understanding only, and no undue limitation is to be un- 10.5] Bolts 9 are preferably arranged circumderstood therefrom, but the appended claims are to be construedas broadly as is permissible in vievv of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as-nevv, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the `United States of America,

is Y 1. Ina structure of the character described, a frame member having a groove therein and an inclined seat in the groove,

. n and a Wall section projecting into the groove oi the frame member and engaging inthe seat thereof, for the purposes specified.

2. In a structure of the character described, a frame member having a groove Whose Walls iiare outwardly, an inclined seat formed in they groove of the frame member, and a Wall section having Vits sides beveled to project into the groove of the frame member and engage in the seat of the latter, as specified. y i l f 3. In `a structure of theV character described, spaced kupright frame members having in their opposing faces grooves in each of Which is provided a plurality of inclined boards, the bottom of said Vgrooves being.

composed of av series of short inclined or stepped sections, and filler boards having their ends shaped to iit said inclined sections* A 5. In a structure of the character described, vspaced frame members and filler members, said frame members having individual seatsk for each iiller member, the bottom surfaces of said seats and the end edges of the filler' members being inclined relative to the frame member.

6. In a structure of the character described, spaced frame members and ller members, the end edges of the filler `members being' Yoppositely inclined to form ay lwedge shape and the frame members having similarly inclined seats for the reception 'of the ends of the filler members. 1 7. In a structure of the character described, spaced frame members and ller v members, the frame members having individual seats for the filler members with n the surfaces which engage the ends of the filler members being inclined relative to the length-of said frame members, the ends of the filler members being similarly inclined to fit said seats, the lower ends of corresponding seats of adjacent frame members being further separated than their upper ends.

Signed at Mt. Vernon, Wash., this 27 day 0f April, 1914. K

FREDERICK WERT CRAM. Witnesses: f

AUGUSTUS BRAWLEY, DAVE HAMMOGK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

